Hairy Maclary

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Plots

The plots of the Hairy Maclary books are generally simple, in keeping with the comprehension of the age group for which they are ranged. They generally involve Hairy and his friends in adventurous scenarios pitched against local cats, with an implication that the cats are more clever. Hairy's character could be said to equate to that of William Brown in the well known books by Richmal Crompton.

Educational value

While the books are lavishly illustrated by the author, there is also large-print text to encourage small children to wish to learn to read. In the "Caterwaul Caper" Hairy's arch enemy Scarface Claw becomes stuck in a tree, and the dreadful noise he makes alerts Hairy and his friends to his predicament:-

::"Wrowwww-w-w-w-w-w-::said Scarface Claw::The din was so awful::that up hill and down::you could hear the CACOPHONY::all over the town"

The tales also have clearly marked morals, with the "baddie" getting his comeuppance at the end of the story. In this instance Scarface had been chasing birds. The books encourage a sense of right and wrong among their young readers.

Books In The Series

* Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy (1983)
* Hairy Maclary's Bone (1984)
* Hairy Maclary Scattercat (1985)
* Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper (1987)
* Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet (1989)
* Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness (1991)
* Hairy Maclary, Sit (1997)
* Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack (1999)
* Scarface Claw (2001)
* Zachary Quack Minimonster (2005)
* Hairy Maclary's Hat Tricks (2007)

External links

* [http://www.mallinsonrendel.co.nz/hairymaclary.asp Hairy's home page]
* [http://www.onewaynewzealand.com/blogentry.asp?id=101 Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy]